But from others, words of praise

THE great and good of politics rushed to lavish praise upon Martin McGuinness, describing him as a ‘peacemaker’, a man of ‘courage’ and – extraordinarily – a ‘great guy’.

Tony Blair, Peter Hain and Alastair Campbell all appeared on the BBC to deliver fulsome tributes to the man who had played such a key role in the republicans’ terror campaign.

Mr Blair said he would remem- ber him with ‘great affection’, claiming that the peace process would never have happened without him.

Mr Blair’s former spin doctor Mr Campbell hailed him as a ‘great guy’ who displayed great ‘intelligence and wit’.

However, others such as former Tory MP Patrick Mercer said he found the tributes ‘unpalatable’ due to the IRA’s campaign of horrific violence.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair

‘ The quality of strength and determination that made him such a formidable foe during the armed struggle was also what made him such a formidable peacemaker later … Whatever the past, the Martin I knew was a thoughtful, reflective and committed individual. Once he became the peacemaker he became it wholeheartedly and with no shortage of determined opposition to those who wanted to carry on the war.’

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

‘ Martin McGuinness played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Ireland, after years as a key protagonist in the tragedy of the conflict. Martin played an absolutely crucial role in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement and a peace process which, despite difficulties, remains an example throughout the world of what can be achieved when the will is there.’

Former Northern Ireland Secretary Lord Hain

‘ Sometimes in the history of conflicts … you need leaders who can rise above their past and, at that point, Martin McGuinness certainly stood the test and proved to be an indispensable figure.’

Former Prime Minister John Major

‘Martin McGuinness realised that – if one wishes to secure long-term peace – negotiation must always prevail over violence. In a mixed legacy, that stands to his credit. Let that be his epitaph.’

Former Blair spokesman Alastair Campbell

‘ Some people will find this impossible to hear, but he was a very, very warm human being and very likeable. I grew to be very fond of Martin McGuinness. He had this warmth and this ability to empathise with people, and that’s what made him a very good politician when he chose to follow that path. I think he genuinely changed and, as a result of that, was able to lead a movement for change and make Northern Ireland a better place. Some will never forgive his past but without him there would be no peace. The man I knew was a great guy.’

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

‘He grew up in Northern Ireland’s troubled past – but without his hard and brave work to bridge the divide, peace would not have been achieved.’

Former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern

‘He was a good person in my view. He moved from a very difficult past where he took a particular side and he was a good person to negotiate with, and certainly I considered him as a good friend as we went through 25 years of discussions.’

Former US President Bill Clinton

‘When he decided to fight for peace, Martin was calm, courageous and direct. And when he gave his word, that was as good as gold.’

Former Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid

‘He had the courage to change, to compromise, to abandon violence, to embrace old enemies, to promote reconciliation and he made a massive contribution in shaping a better future for everyone in Northern Ireland.’

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams

‘He was a passionate republican who worked tirelessly for peace and reconciliation and for the reunification of his country.’

Ian Paisley Jnr

‘The journey of Martin McGuinness’s life ended in a very different way to what people would have supposed it would have done … He became the necessary man in government to deliver a stable and necessary peace, and that’s a complex and remarkable journey.’

Former Prime Minister David Cameron

‘Despite our differences I enjoyed working with Martin McGuinness. He wanted politics to work in Northern Ireland and helped make it happen.’